Hi all,
Does anyone have any advice for a cream to reduce scaring on the wound area ? My plaster comes off tomorrow - phew !! and was wondering what I could do to reduce the scarring ? Heard silicone pads ?? Going to be put into a wedge on top of my insole for my trainer and then PWB and physio tuesday….
Anyone out there have any advice…..
Went back to Consultant on Monday. Moved foot to neutral position and replastered it for another two weeks. Boy am I frustrated now. He said in two weeks I will leave the hospital on crutches with the plaster off and a wedge in my trainer, he says all being well I could be running by October. does anyone have any experience of what to expect after coming out of plaster after 6 weeks and with the wedge in the trainer ? I cannot wait to get moving again……
Went back yday to Fracture Clinic and positive news - stitches out and cleaned up, consultant thought everything was healing well. Foot was put in different position - mid range for another two weeks and then he said it would be put into 90 degrees and then plastered again for two weeks. Then looking at a wedge in my trainer and rehab, I have got a physio lined up. Great responses from guys - really appreciated. I just wondered how far will I be off jogging after the 6 week period when my plaster comes up, I know there will be loads of rehab, I just really hate this period of complete inactivity, it is so frustrating -from being a complete rugby playing, gym attending, fitness addict - to a couch potatoe with foot high in air is completely mind numbling boring !!!!!!!!
Hi, 1st time on site. Played rugby back on 09/05/09 and tore my left achilles. Straight to A & E,(excellent advice from physio on pitchside) and Consultant there said complete rupture. Back to fracture clinic on Monday and operated on 12/05/09, told by Consultant op went well. In front slab cast until 26/05/09 - when stitches out and will be put into full cast for a further 4 wks, but cast altered. Then into trainer with wedge underneath. Can anyone tell me of their experience relating to this kind of rehab ? I have physio lined up for 6 wks after injury. but feel mega cheesed off as really active rugby player (good standard) and runner / weights etc etc and now nothing ! Will I be able to partially weight bare even in a normal cast after 14 days from op ? Anyone sharing their experiences would be really appreciated. This is the 2nd rupture for me (10 yrs) ago did it, put in cast for 10 wks and then physio, running within 4 months. Cheers Henrys Cat,.
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I would not recommend going to the gym in a cast for the exact reason you state. You can do some basic exercises at home and upper body. However, if you move into a aircast boot just buy some wet wipes and wash your leg/foot with these. Worked for me until I could take showers/baths.
Im the same, from a football/gym lover to a couch potatoe, its only been a week and its very hard. My right leg is in a cast and am thinking of going to the gym today, just to do some upper bosy stuff on the machines. I worry about my leg sweating too much as you’re not meant to get it wet/moist right? Dont want it getting too manky…
I’ve used a silicone scar sheet. I can’t say that it works too well.
I would recommend Vitamin E oil. I use a mix of lemon and E.
It will smooth out the scar. There is also another scar cream I have seen online.
I’ve been using Mederma on mine. Today is 26 weeks post-op for me. It seems to make a difference. My wife used it on her knees after she had them replaced and her scars are really minimal considering the procedure she went through.
Personally, I’m more concerned about functionality than appearance but it’s easy enough to use so what the hell.
You can do it, just wait for it…
I’m at the 10 week mark now and really moving around well, back in two shoes. I was out of the cast and in the boot in 4 weeks, the first week or two with the boot I was still using the crutches, but it is a lot easier to move without the cast on. The first day in my boot I was walking around but very very slowly. Each person is different but you should be moving around much better soon. Start theropy asap as it has been a big help to me.
I went for a gentle run/walk, 45 min on flat trail, 17 weeks to the day since my surgery. It felt great and I’m now thinking this summer of running will be almost like normal. The couch potato days of jan/feb/mar seem a distant memory!
Hi Henry 152
Sorry to hear about your injury. I was really worried about not doing any exercise too - so what I’ve done is go to the gym, sit on the exercise bike and pedal using my good leg only. I generally try to do an hour a day and follow this with a upper body workout. One advantage of the injury I have found is that my previously underused arm and shoulder muscles have been getting a lot of attention - with positive effects according to my girlfriend.
All the best as you recover.
Si
I’m 9 months Post OP. I was in a none weight bearing cast for 4 months, full weight bearing cast for 2, waling boot for 2, then back in two shoes. PT for a months and here I sit 9 months Post OP.
PT I had was basic for my injury. Stretch, foot lifts etc. Strengthening is key.
Good Luck
Glen
San Diego
Henry — best of luck with the recovery.
I also blew out my right achilles 9 years ago, and just did my left a couple of weeks ago. I ruptured both during squash matches. I was treated for the previous right tendon in the UK, and this time, am now in the US for the left. Both protocols however seem to be the same — 6 weeks NWB (3 weeks in hard cast, 3 weeks in walking boot), followed by another 6 weeks PWB to FWB with PT. I am only on week 2 as we speak sadly
.
With regard to diet — I agree, vegetables, fruits and fiber is key. It may be an old wives tale, but I am also taking Mega Men (GNC multivitamin), Glucosamine Chondroitin (for joint flexibility) and recently heard MLM is also good to take. I’m wary of not trying to pack too many pills particularly if they are all placebo’s anyway!
Hiking around town on your crutches should be a good way to keep in shape (at least upper body), as I’m finding out again….
Sunny
Hi Henry,
If you have any choice at all, you should really try to get in a walking boot of some sort. It may not affect your long-term recovery results too much, but it will make your quality of life for the next months many times better. You should be able to walk in a walking boot (aircast, CAM walker, vacoped, etc) within 2 weeks of the surgery. I know for me it was a huge improvement to be able to walk, bike, and generally exercise my thigh on the bad leg. Also, being able to remove the boot to shower your bad leg is good for preventing infection, etc, and you can take it off to do ROM exercises and gentle stretching which should give you a head start on rehab and prevent certain complications arising with extended immobilization. Don’t let them put a cast on you!
Hi Henry 152,
I pretty much had the same protocol as yourself. In three different casts for a period of 6 weeks post-op non weight-bearing and then in two trainers (sneakers) with heals/wedges (full-weight bearing). I did request the aircast boot for a period of about 7 days inbetween cast and trainers. I am now 10 weeks post-op and things are progressing well. I can walk for around 30-40 minutes a day - I cycle (stationary bike) for about 25 minutes a day and at times do the cross trainer (lowest resistance) for 10 minutes. I still find that my foot gets sore - but things do speed up after the casts. Regardless of what you do - you will experience muscle wastage and this can only really be re-built after your casts and once you start walking/physiotherapy.
With regards to diet - I would not recommend taking extra protein as protein can be difficult to digest - especially if you are not that active/mobile. I would recommend a diet loaded with fresh fruit/veg and fibre and just eat/drink sensibly. I think there was someone on the blog who mentioned that vitamin C helps with pain in the tendon - but I’ve not come across any scie
[...]Thanks for the message. I think going from being very fit and active is incredibly hard to take, also having to stop eating and being realy careful with food is difficult. Is anyone taking extra protein or supplements for example ? It would be handy for some kind of timeline as I have six weeks until my plaster comes off and then a wedge under my trainer, there seems to be some excellent info on here, but there are plenty of diff orth surgeons who do things differently.
Cheers
hey Henry,
back luck with the injury, your second one, what a bummer!
From what I have read on this site, everyone’s recovery timelines and procedures are completely different. My Orthopedic Surgeon, for example, has basically told me nothing yet except that I can start Range of Movement exercises after week 4 (I am currently almost 2 weeks post-op). However, I don’t know what that means in terms of wearing a cast or boot etc. really have no idea.
Can relate about the gym, I was also an active AFL (Aussie Rules) player and did the injury playing. Not getting to the gym drives me nuts, so I have been going up and down the stairwell in my building with my crutches in lieu of the bench 
I am seeing the physio already, who is putting some kind of radio waves on the bad achilles to help with the scarring and healing, as well as the electrodes on my quads to keep the muscles going. Maybe you could try this to help speed up the recovery and ensure you are good to go when the cast comes off?
Tom
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